The Goats finally seem to be getting the recognition they deserve, if the number of interviews about this album with lead Goat, John Darnielle, is anything to go by. The last two albums, The Sunset Tree and Get Lonely, were dominated by themes – Darnielle’s relationship with his stepfather and the loss of a lover respectively – but Heretic Pride is theme-free. This has loosened things up somewhat and the songs are more varied in tone, pace and content, ranging from out-and-out rockers to the wistful.
There’s a wider range of instrumentation too, either because they’ve got more resources these days or they’re more comfortable in studio, though Darnielle apparently remains of the “less is more” school. You still get his image-laden lyrics though, particularly in Tianchi Lake, his tenderness in San Bernardino, and who else would write a song full of savage delight about a heretic being killed for his beliefs, thereby living his life to the full? Not everyone’s cup of tea but, if you like The Goats, they’re getting better.
Showing posts with label Mountain Goats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mountain Goats. Show all posts
8.1.07
The Mountain Goats – Metro Theatre, Sydney – Saturday, 6 January
It takes quite a nerve for a two-man band confronting the biggest audience they’ve ever attracted (around 1,000) to open the set with a song as intimate and introverted as Wild Sage but it was delivered with such confidence and conviction that the audience was soon hanging on every note.
For this Australian tour, the Goats are John Darnielle (of course) and bassist Peter Hughes, with current producer, John Vanderslice, lending a hand for the closing songs, and also acting as the support act.
That first song swept away all doubts about whether a band whose songs travel such dark and often depressing territory could engage such a big audience. Quite simply, they communicate, though it was sometimes hard to tell whether Darnielle was expressing savage glee or deep torment when he delivered classic lines like “I hope you die/I hope we both die” from the classic No Children or “I am going to make it through this year if it kills me” from This Year.
Either way, it worked, not least because he clearly now has a huge following who embrace the lyrics like old friends. The Goats generate a huge sound from just two guitars and as much emotion and excitement. I’m an even bigger fan now.
For this Australian tour, the Goats are John Darnielle (of course) and bassist Peter Hughes, with current producer, John Vanderslice, lending a hand for the closing songs, and also acting as the support act.
That first song swept away all doubts about whether a band whose songs travel such dark and often depressing territory could engage such a big audience. Quite simply, they communicate, though it was sometimes hard to tell whether Darnielle was expressing savage glee or deep torment when he delivered classic lines like “I hope you die/I hope we both die” from the classic No Children or “I am going to make it through this year if it kills me” from This Year.
Either way, it worked, not least because he clearly now has a huge following who embrace the lyrics like old friends. The Goats generate a huge sound from just two guitars and as much emotion and excitement. I’m an even bigger fan now.
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